Ekedebick e



F. E. STRICKLANDL FOLUABLE UMBRELLA. APPLICATION FILED ocT. I3, 1913.

Pa tented 11111024, 1919;,

UNITED STATES P T OFFICE- FREDERICK E. sralcnrnnn, calmness, LOUISIANA.

To all whom itmay concern: y p

Be it known that I, FREDERICK E. Semen LANn,a citizen of the United States, residing atAleXandria, in the parish of Rapides and umbrella.

State of Louisiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Foldable Umbrellas, of which the following is a specification! a j The present invention contemplates the provision of an umbrella of the foldable type so designed to readily adapt the same being folded in a compact form, thus occupying a minimum amount of space to facilitate the convenient further objectof the invention is the provision of an umbrella of the above stated character embodying telescopic rib sections, and means for facilitating theopening and set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claim.

Figure 1 is a side elevation ofan urnbrella shown in folded position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the umbrella in open position;

3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the umbrella in partially open position; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail perspective view of one of the umbrella ribs clearly illustrating the stop.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing, 5 denotes the umbrella staff provided with a series of spring catches 6. A handle 7 is adapted for detachable connection with the lower end of the staff by the provision of the threaded shank 8 thereof, this shank being adapted to threadedly engage with the handle, and thus detachably connecting the handle with said staff. The character 9 denotes the conventional form of sleeve to which the ribs 10 of the umbrella are pivotally connected at their upper ends. These ribs embody a pair of telescopic sections including an upper section 11 and a lower section 12, and of substantially inverted V-form in cross section. The upper rib section 11 has its opposite longitudinal edges bent inwardly to provide a pair of converging guideways 13 for receiving the packing or transportation of the i Emma UMBREL A.

p i n bf L tt r Patent PatentedJune 24, 1919. Application filed October 13, le s. jsen no. i25,4ca

edgesl t ofthe lowermost rib section 12,

and adapting the lower section of the umbrella frame tobe folded within the upper section 11. The material from which the lower"ribsection12is formed, is bent inwardly to provide a lug 15 to which the runners braces 16 are pivotally connected at their upper ends while the lower ends of these braces or stretchers are pivotally con nected to the collar 17for1ned on the upper endo-fYthe runner sleeve 18. I This runner sleeve gradually tapers in a direction toward its collar 17 for a purpose to be hereinafter inore 1fiilly set forth. Securedbetween the lugs 15 and mounted on the pivot connecting the upper end of the stretcher 16 to said lugs,

is a l leaf spr ing lQwhich engagesover the p "p transverse stop20 formed integral with one closing of the rib sections uponthe opening ofthein'bent portions 13 of the uppermost rib section at a point adjacent the lower end thereof, and with which the inner edge of the stretchers engage, thus tensioning the stretchers and assisting in forcing the latter to assume a partially open position during the initial opening of the umbrella.

It will be observed that during the act of sliding the lower rib section to assume an open position, the lug 15 will engage with the upper edge of the stop, and thus limit the expansion of the lowermost rib section when it is desired to open the umbrella frame.

The chief characteristic of the invention resides in the provision of a ferrule cup 21 having a depending sleeve 22 of atapering formation to conform with the tapering of the runner sleeve 18, thus upon the adjustment of the ferrule cup'21 upon the runner sleeve 18, will cause the shank 22 of the former to frictionally engage with the latter, and thusserving to prevent any loose movement of the ferrule cup 21 upon said rubber sleeve. The enlarged or cup-shaped upper end 23 of this cup-shaped ferrule, is adapted to control the folding and unfolding of the rib sections. To this end, when. it is desired to extend thelower rib section 12, the same isperformed by sliding the cup-shaped ferrule 21 in a downward direction upon the runner sleeve 18 until the lug 15 contacts with the transverse stop 20 of the uppermost rib section 11. On the other hand, after the umbrella hasbeen lowered, upward movement is imparted to the cup-shaped ferrule causing the lowermost rib sections 12 to slide within the upper rib sections 11, and in order to prevent any outward movement of the ribs 10 after the umbrella has been closed, I then adjust thecup-shaped'ferrule 21 in an upward direction upon the runner sleeve at a point above the point of pivotal connection of the braces or stretchers 15 with the collar 17, and asbefore stated, due to the frictional engagement of the ferrule cup 21 with, the

runner 18, will prevent the former from moving in an outward direction upon the latter, and thus housing thecollar when the umbrella is in a folded or compact form.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of construction and the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, and while I have described the principles of operation of the invention, together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the'devic'e shown is merely illustrative, andthat such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new, is:

A foldable umbrella comprising a staff, a runner sleeve tapered longitudinally and slidably mounted'onthe staff, a frame pivotally connected at one end to the staff, said frame comprising a pair of telescopic upper and lower rib sections, the lowermost rib section of the umbrella being provided With spaced lugs, the uppermost'rib section being provided with a stop and with longitudinal flanges engaged by the edges of the lower section, stretchers connected at one end-between the lugs of the lowermost rib section and at their opposite ends to the runner sleeve, and a cup-shaped ferrule having a tapered bore frictionally engaging with the runner sleeve and adjustably mounted thereon for effecting the opening and closing movements of the ribs, the said cup-shaped ferrule adapted when the rib sections are telescoped to be adjusted above the pivotal point of connection of the stret-chers with said runner sleeve, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

, In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FREDERICK E. STRICKLAND.

Copies or this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing, the Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. 0. 

